From Gaza To Dearborn, Michigan: Naming Roads After Hamas Supporters

A Muslim mayor of Dearborn, Michigan, has stunned with his vitriol against a Christian resident of his city who simply objected to promoting violence.

Mayor Abdullah H. Hammoud scolded resident Edward "Ted" Barham, a Christian, "Although you live here, you are not welcome here."

Barham had objected to renaming some intersections in Dearborn after Osama Siblani, Arab American News publisher who has promoted Hezbollah and Hamas, both Middle East organizations that have inflicted death, destruction and terror on Americans.

Hammoud issued a dangerous suggestion for Barham to not see the signs.

"The best suggestion I have for you is to not drive on Warren Avenue or close your eyes while you're doing it. His name is up there and I spoke at a ceremony celebrating it because he's done a lot for his community," Hammoud claimed.

He then turned to a personal attack on his city's resident, accusing Barham of being "a bigot, and you are racist, and you're an Islamophobe. Although you live here, I want you to know as mayor, you are not welcome here. And the day you move out of the city will be the day that I launch a parade celebrating the fact that you moved out of this city."

Barham had explained Siblani is "a promoter of Hezbollah and Hamas. … He talks about how the blood of the martyrs irrigates the land of Palestine … whether we are in Michigan and whether we are in Yemen. Believe me, everyone should fight within his means. They will fight with stones, others will fight with guns, others fight with planes, drones, and rockets."

Fox News reported the signs actually were approved by the Wayne County commission, as the road is a county road, but the signs are inside Dearborn.

Barham compared the signs to naming a road "Hezbollah Street or Hamas Street," and said the "honor" for Siblani was "provocative."

He explained as a Christian, he promoted peace.

Fox explained, "Dearborn, the city with America's highest-percentage Muslim population, has long navigated debate over cultural and political identity. For many average residents, the moment captured in City Hall begged the question of whether elected officials are willing to listen to all voices or only those they choose to celebrate."

WND reported only days ago that adjacent Dearborn Heights was forced into an embarrassing backtrack when officials announced a badge for police officers that said "Dearborn Heights Police" in Arabic.  

The scandal even caught the attention of the late Charlie Kirk, co-founder of Turning Point USA, who was assassinated a week ago at a free speech event in Utah.

After an interval of only two days, Dearborn Heights Mayor Bill Bazzi went to social media to backtrack.

"On Wednesday, September 3rd, information was disseminated from the Dearborn Heights Police Department regarding a digital mock-up of the DHPD patch bearing the department name translated in Arabic script," his Facebook post said. "The design mock-up idea showed the words 'Dearborn Heights Police' in Arabic and was said to be optional. The patch effort was an internal discussion among some within the police department which was not put forth for consensus or further review."

But, he said, "Should efforts like this be formally undertaken to make any changes to the Police uniform, it is our goal to include multiple PD stakeholders for a larger conversation, to ensure all are included in the discussion. As we are one PD, each individual's uniform represents the DHPD as a whole, and therefore merits the review and input of all. At this time, this patch addition remains an idea and should NOT have been presented as an official prototype."

Dearborn Heights has a population of around 39% Middle Eastern or North African as of the most recent census, but triggered Republican Congressman Randy Fine with its announcement. He called it an example of "Sharia Law" coming to Michigan.

Originally published at WND News Center